Management
New Senate bill aims to codify Chevron deference with congressional intent
Sen. Ron Wyden’s, D-Ore., Restoring Congressional Authority Act would reimpose judicial deference to federal agencies in clarifying regulatory intent after the Supreme Court struck down a 40-year precedent in June.
Workforce
Conservative senator seeks to ban official time at federal agencies
Eliminating federal compensation for unions’ time spent representing employees would shred a decades-old compromise at the heart of federal labor issues.
Pay & Benefits
Senate appropriators endorse 2% pay raise for feds next year
With neither chamber in Congress willing to override President Biden, his plan to increase federal workers’ pay by 2% on average appears headed for implementation later this year.
Management
Senate appropriators propose $500 million budget increase for Social Security overhead
The decision to include $14.7 billion for the Social Security Administration’s administrative budget sets up a fight with the House, which is proposing a nearly half billion-dollar cut.
Workforce
Democrats demand employee protections after a GAO report reveals sexual misconduct in federal courts
More than 30,000 employees work as law clerks, staff attorneys, office managers and other positions within the federal judiciary, which includes the U.S. Supreme Court, circuit and district courts.
Management
Senate bill could reduce feds salary to $1 if they don’t respond to congressional requests
The Upholding Standards of Accountability Act would require agency leaders to testify before congressional committees after publishing any new major rule, among other provisions, in the wake of the Chevron deference decision.
Oversight
House sends the Billion Dollar Boondoggle Act to president's desk
The chamber also approved two other bills to improve oversight of federal agencies.
Management
House GOP spending cuts are a preview of Project 2025, lead Dem appropriator says
Rep. Rosa DeLauro, D-Conn., told reporters Tuesday that the major spending cuts in Republicans’ fiscal 2025 proposal to fund the departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education would have significant impacts on workers, families and students.
Management
Secret Service director resigns after Trump assassination attempt, bipartisan criticism
Biden said he would appoint a new director soon.
Workforce
The DOOBIE Act would codify federal hiring policy for former marijuana users
The bill, introduced by Sen. Gary Peters, D-Mich., would enshrine in law that past marijuana use cannot be the sole basis for denying federal job applicants a position or security clearance.
Pay & Benefits
Administrative law judge union to push for expanded annual carryover leave
Officials with a union that represents administrative law judges at the Social Security Administration said their jobs are more akin to those of senior-level federal jobs than General Schedule positions.
Oversight
Bill to strengthen oversight of beleaguered Bureau of Prisons is cleared for president’s signature
The Senate approved the measure by unanimous consent, following several misconduct investigations into the federal prison system.
Management
Republicans look to cull agency powers in wake of Supreme Court rulings
Agencies should adjust their postures going forward while also unwinding previous actions, lawmakers say.
Management
Senate's FY25 spending bills gain bipartisan momentum
Committee reaches bipartisan agreement to boost funding levels that lawmakers say are key to avoiding furloughs and layoffs at agencies.
Workforce
The FLRA is nearly back at full strength following Senate confirmation vote
The Senate voted 55-37 to confirm Anne Wagner as the third member atop the Federal Labor Relations Authority, allowing the agency to consider controversial cases again for the first time in more than a year.
Management
House fails to pass measure to hold attorney general in ‘inherent contempt'
House legislators on Thursday rejected a resolution to fine Attorney General Merrick Garland for withholding audio tapes from the Justice Department special counsel’s interview with President Joe Biden.
Management
House GOP defeats effort to restore SSA funding to appropriations bill
Democrats said the planned half-billion-dollar cut to the Social Security Administration’s administrative budget would bring the agency’s workforce to the lowest level in 50 years.
Pay & Benefits
A House funding bill would make recent federal firefighter pay raises permanent
The House Appropriations Committee is set to advance a spending package Tuesday that would codify recent temporary pay raises for federal wildland firefighters into law and fund them to the tune of $330 million.
Management
A US agency focused on foreign disinformation could shut down after the election
The State Department’s Global Engagement Center recently opened an anti-Russian propaganda center in Poland, but needs congressional action to continue operations.
Oversight